E3 2016: Microsoft Reveals ‘Gears of War 4’ Campaign Gameplay

Microsoft kicked off their annual E3 presentation in spectacular fashion today with Gears of War 4, and the announcement that not only will the title support cross-platform play between PC and Xbox One, but it will also be a cross-buy title: meaning that if you purchase Gears of War 4 on Xbox One, you can play on PC at no additional cost (or vice versa, of course). It’s part of Microsoft’s new “Xbox Play Anywhere” initiative, which will likely be offered for most major first-party titles.

We also got a new look at the Gears of War 4 campaign mode via an extended gameplay demonstration that showed off the title’s incredible visuals and insane setpieces, not to mention some of the comically gruesome new execution options. Check out the video below to see how Gears of War 4 is shaping up.

I’ve gotta say, this looks spectacular. I was a huge fan of the original Gears trilogy on Xbox 360, and when I finally picked up an Xbox One earlier this year, Gears of War 4 was one of the titles I knew I could look forward to. It doesn’t look like there have been any significant changes to the core gameplay mechanics – it’s still a cover-based third-person shooter – but there’s an incredible level of polish here.

The new weather effects also look incredible, and I’m wondering if they’ll play a major role over the course of the entire game, or if they’ll just factor into the level showcased in this footage. And if you replay levels, can you always expect the same sort of weather, or will the changes be dynamic? So many questions!

Gears of War 4 will launch on October 11, exclusively on Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Brent Hankins

Brent Hankins is a member of the Phoenix Critics Circle and co-host of the Drinks and Discourse podcast. He's also the proud owner of an Italian Greyhound named Sullivan. He's adorable (the dog, not the author).